Plane loses control on Sikorsky runway

Staff reports

Published 10:11 pm, Friday, June 15, 2012

Photo: Morgan Kaolian, Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX

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Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine ... more

Photo: Morgan Kaolian, Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX

Image 2 of 19

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine ... more

Photo: Morgan Kaolian, Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX

Image 3 of 19

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine ... more

Photo: Morgan Kaolian, Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX

Image 4 of 19

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine ... more

Photo: Morgan Kaolian, Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX

Image 5 of 19

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX
A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager who said âÄúThey were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet.âÄù Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely. less

A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. lost control Friday June 15, 2012. and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based ... more

STRATFORD -- A plane testing its brakes at Sikorsky Memorial Airport lost control Friday morning and skidded about 20 feet off the runway and into the grass, officials said.

Early reports indicate that the brakes malfunctioned.

A Stratford Fire Department dispatcher said the incident happened at about 11:25 a.m. The twin-engine Baron aircraft, based at the airport, was undergoing maintenance when the malfunction occurred, according to John Ricci, airport manager.

"The plane was never airborne," Ricci said. "They were using the alternate runway to test the brakes. The brakes failed or locked up and the plane overshot the pavement and went into the grassy area about 20 feet."

According to emergency dispatches, the plane was smoking as it skidded from Runway 11/29 and into the grass about 20 feet away, but the smoke was quickly extinguished. Ricci said the smoke was the result of the brake failure.

Two people were on board at the time of the incident, but both people got out safely.

The plane is registered to a REM Air Company, a Wilmington, Del.- based company, according to federal aviation records.

The airport has two runways, 6/24 and 11/29. Both are approximately 4,600 feet in length.

Police and firefighters from Stratford and Bridgeport, which runs the airport, responded to the incident, but additional emergency responders from each department were called off when the smoke was quickly extinguished.

No further details about the incident were immediately available Friday morning.